BANANA CARAMEL PUDDING RECIPES

Steps:

• This works great as a stand-alone recipe, but also as a component in Jamie’s Celebration Roast from Together – see the full collection of menus here. ON THE DAY In a large mixing bowl, mash 50g of butter with a pinch of cinnamon, 50g of sugar and the vanilla paste. Crack in the eggs, squeeze in the clementine juice, add the milk and whisk together. At this point, you could add a splash of smooth whisky, brandy or golden rum, if you wish. Peel, finely slice and add the bananas, destone, finely chop and add the dates, randomly tear in the panettone, and mix it all together really well. Grease a shallow baking dish (25cm diameter) with a little butter, pour in the mixture, sprinkle over the almonds and a pinch of cinnamon, then cover and refrigerate until needed. TO SERVE Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Bake the pudding for 40 minutes, or until golden and bubbling, then leave to rest for 10 minutes while you make the sauce. Put the remaining 150g of sugar into a small non-stick frying pan with 50ml of water. Place on a medium heat and let the sugar melt until you have a chestnut brown caramel, swirling the pan occasionally – don’t be tempted to touch it. Stand back and whisk in the cream until smooth and combined – it will bubble vigorously – then whisk in the remaining 15g of butter. Either pour the sauce over the pudding, or carefully decant it into a cute jug, for pouring at the table. Great with vanilla ice cream, if you so wish.

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/2 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk 3/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, and then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the milk in the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the mixture come to a simmer. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.
• Layer a third of the pudding, half the banana slices and half the vanilla wafers in a 9-inch square baking dish. Layer with half the remaining pudding, all the remaining banana slices and all the remaining wafers. Top with the last of the pudding. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the pudding surface, and refrigerate overnight to soften the cookies.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bring the egg whites to room temperature. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium-high, and slowly sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar a tablespoon at a time, whipping for 15 seconds after each addition, until glossy firm peaks form. Spread the meringue on top of the pudding with an offset spatula so it reaches the edges of the pan. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.